Graduates looking for work in Britain will find it harder to get a job than their counterparts in Australia or South Africa, a new report published today has revealed.

Around 49 job seekers currently go for every vacancy in the UK, compared to 43 in Australia and 40 in South Africa.

The report, published by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) also found that the average number of vacancies per employer in the UK stands at 20, compared to 10 in Hong Kong, 13 in Australia, 24 in South Africa and 108 in the US.

The average UK graduate salary currently stands at £25,000 which is lower than Australia, Canada, America and Hong Kong.

The Ingrada (International Network of Graduate Recruitment and Development Associations) Global Graduate survey is based on the results of surveys and market knowledge from six countries, covering offer acceptance, vacancy and application rates, graduate figures of hiring costs, acceptance and retention rates.

The survey stretches across the globe covering the UK, Hong Kong, Canada, America, South Africa, Australia and Canada.

Carl Gilleard, chief executive of AGR, said: ‘The political, economic and cultural environment in which organisations recruit and develop graduates is becoming increasingly global.

“We believe that the international partnerships we have forged through Ingrada will benefit our growing membership’.’

Press Association